Leadership Team

John Todd, CEO, is a native Bostonian, and graduate of Boston College High School and the United States Military Academy at West Point. John served over 7 years on active duty as an Army Aviator. After completing flight school, he served 6 consecutive years at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in various Airborne units. His military duties were highlighted by pre- Advanced/Career Course selection for two separate Company Commands and assignment as Aide-de–Camp to a Major General. Upon separation from the military, John entered Corporate America and has served in a variety of positions to include Sales Representative, General Manager, President and CEO. He has worked for both Inc 500 companies and Global 50 companies and has served as CEO or controlling shareholder for thirteen different corporations in a variety of industries. John has successfully led numerous mergers and acquisitions for several corporations and has consistently delivered exceptional returns for shareholders. John has served as CEO of Alliance since its founding in 2003. He lives in North Carolina with his wife Virginia, a fellow 1985 West Point graduate and former Military Police officer, and is the proud father of 6 children: Theresa, Patricia, Catherine, Stephanie, Maggie, and Caroline. Theresa is a 2009 West Point graduate who now works with an Alliance corporate partner in the financial industry in the New York City area. She deployed to Afghanistan and is married to Greg Walker, a former Special Forces Officer, 2008 West Point graduate, Purple Heart recipient, and now salesman with an Alliance corporate partner in the medical device industry. Patricia is a 2010 West Point graduate who served at Fort Bragg as part of the 503rd Military Police Battalion (Airborne). She now works for an Alliance corporate partner in the medical device industry, and is married to Jonathan Smith. Johnathan is a 2008 West Point graduate who completed 3 combat tours with the Ranger Regiment and 82nd Airborne division.

John Zornick, President, is a native of Buffalo, New York but claims Ohio as his other home state. He graduated from the United States Military Academy where he was a distinguished cadet majoring in Engineering Management. He served as an Infantry Officer in airborne, light, and mechanized units throughout a 20 year career. He graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College and earned his master’s degree in Operations Research from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He is a combat veteran, commanded a rifle company, and an airborne long range surveillance detachment, while also serving in a variety of staff positions at every level from battalion through Army Service Component Command. In his tours away from troops, he taught mathematics at West Point and served with the ROTC program at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. John has been with Alliance since 2006, where he began as a candidate recruiter. While in that role, he developed the Alliance Training Program and took on the full time role of administering the program to hundreds of candidates each year. John has served as the President of Alliance since 2013. He lives in the Chapel Hill area with Pam, his wife of 30+ years. They have two children, John Jr. (USMA 2010, Engineer Officer) and Joseph. John Jr. now works for an Alliance corporate partner in the robotics industry.

Roger Lush, Senior Vice President, is a native Chicagoan and a football Hall of Fame member of Grayson County High School, and graduate of North Carolina State University, go Wolfpack. Roger retired from the Army after service as a senior non-commissioned officer and Sergeants Major Academy select. Roger’s assignments include Fort Stewart, Georgia; Germany; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Fort Riley, Kansas; Hawaii; and Fort Benning, Georgia. His military duties were highlighted by participating in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, service as a drill sergeant, and deploying as a First Sergeant in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon retiring from the military, Roger joined Alliance to concentrate on industry experience recruiting and business development. He now leads our business development and client team as a Senior Vice President. Roger lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife Denise, a Registered Nurse, and is the proud father of three children: Elizabeth, Rachel, and Travis.

Robin Freeman, Controller, grew up on a tobacco and cotton farm in rural North Carolina. She drove her own tractor, worked in the fields, and kept the books for her parents’ country store and cotton gin until 1997, when she began to pursue a full-time career in accounting. Robin received her masters degree in accounting with a concentration in tax and has provided accounting, payroll, and income tax preparation to dozens of small businesses in various industries during the past 17 years. She is co-owner of B&R Livestock Cattle Farm and owns Roma’s Clydesdale Farm. She founded the associated non-profit, A Chance in the Country, in 2009 with a mission to promote responsible horse ownership among potential horse owners through hands-on education, offer underprivileged & special needs children hands-on experience in the care of horses, and to expose children and youth to the country and farming way of life. A Chance In The Country also participates in a Wounded Warrior program in Eastern, NC that focuses on family activities and provides the Warriors with an opportunity to enjoy a day on the farm with the horses. Robin serves as the Controller of Alliance and three other affiliated corporations. She also provides financial services to Alliance’s entrepreneurial candidates. She lives in Castalia, North Carolina with her Clydesdales, ponies, miniature donkey, many dogs and zebra.

The training was well run, but the biggest impact by far was the interview preparation. The process of filling out interview preparation worksheets greatly assisted me in forming answers for my responses. The entire Alliance staff was great at taking time to address my concerns, I have an incredible new opportunity to launch my new career.

John D.Lieutenant, Submarine Warfare, USNA Class of 2006

Excellent menu of opportunities, very impressed with conference preparation and execution. Great service!

Freddie K.Captain, Special Forces & Infantry, West Point Class of 2004

Alliance provides junior military officers an incredible range of opportunities that we could not command on our own at no cost.

Travis S.First Lieutenant, Engineer Corps

I felt that the entire team was dedicated to my personal success throughout my preparation. There were far better opportunities here than those boasted by other recruiters. My experience surpassed all expectations and I am very grateful for the service.

Samson F.Captain, Military Intelligence, West Point Class of 2005

Great companies, excellent opportunities…I couldn't thank Alliance enough for all the hard work and preparation they put into training us, screening companies, and creating a great conference experience!

Clena A.Captain, Signal Corps, West Point Class of 2007

Alliance has top-notch training conducted by a real person–NO ONE else does that. This is the most responsive, caring group I’ve ever worked with. They took the time to understand my professional desires and worked hard to find companies and opportunities that matched them.

Adam C.Lieutenant, Engineering Duty Officer

The program that Alliance has put together preparing officers for careers in the business world was so much more than I expected. Additionally the level of service that everyone at Alliance exhibits on a daily basis is exceptional and I am always going to recommend that any of my peers who are making the transition speak with Alliance first.

Daniel L.Captain, Infantry

The opportunities were all in the realm of Corporate America where I could best envision myself having a long and successful career. The Alliance staff are consummate professionals, the process is extremely transparent and honest, and staff are always approachable and available. I always felt like a person, not a number!

Scott S.Captain, Air Battle Manager

I first worked with Alliance as a candidate in 2009. I had a great experience, interviewing with a lot of outstanding companies and was hired at the marketing and analytics firm where I’ve worked for the past four years. The support Alliance provided me and their pre-hiring program prepared me well for the process and allowed me to make a seamless transition out of the military. Since then I’ve been involved in the hiring of another dozen Alliance candidates at our company. The quality of the people we’ve been able to bring in has remained consistently high. Recruiting top talent has been one of the main drivers of our company’s success and our relationship with Alliance has been instrumental in allowing us to continue to do that.

Eddie E.First Lieutenant, Infantry

Excellent training and preparation. I enjoyed the mock interviews before and during the conference, especially receiving a different perspective each time. The webinar training was also informative and key to becoming aware of potential positions.

Ed W.Captain, Missile Command

Excellent training program! The preparation prior to the conference made me well prepared for each interview. The training was right in-line with an MBA program and comparable to the MBA I am currently pursuing. I received diverse opportunities with high-level companies, I couldn't ask for more.

Cody P.Captain, Logistics

The training days prior to interviewing at the conference made me feel comfortable in the environment and definitely made the interviews feel better. The opportunities were better than I anticipated. I thought I would be pigeon-holed into entry level manufacturing jobs. To see big name social media companies is also refreshing. The staff was very courteous and always there to help.